Big Eye Soldierfish

Scarlet in color; no pigment on median fins but may have a small black spot at base of soft dorsal fin and some dusky pigment at leading edges of median fins (Ref. 11228). Scales small (Ref. 48635).Description: Characterized by dark brown upper opercular membrane; fourth anal spine longer than third; axil of pectoral fins without scales; depth of body 2.2-2.7 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 17; Analspines: 4; Analsoft rays: 13 - 15

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 58534). A nocturnal species (Ref. 75154); found in small, loose groups in caves or under ledges of reef flats, lagoons, and outer reef slopes. Feeds on benthic and planktonic organisms (Ref. 12419).

A nocturnal species found in small, loose groups in caves or under ledges of reef flats, lagoons, and outer reef slopes. Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae (Ref. 12419).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋區之溫熱帶海域， 西起東非到馬可薩斯島與曼加雷瓦群島， 北至琉球群島， 南至新加勒多尼亞。臺灣分布於南部、綠島、蘭嶼及小琉球等海域。

一般以一支釣及延繩釣的方法捕獲。魚肉白，但質地較爛，煮湯時肉易散開且多溶解油質，因此適合抹鹽油煎食用。唯須注意其內臟可能累積熱帶海魚毒。而它的鱗片及棘刺尖利，需小心刺傷。在水族館中也有人看上它鮮紅的體色，將它飼養做為觀賞魚。

體呈橢圓形或卵圓形，中等側扁。頭部具黏液囊，外露骨骼多有脊紋。眼大。口端位，斜裂；下頜骨前端外側有1對頜聯合齒，上頜具容納頜聯合齒的淺缺刻；頜骨、鋤骨及腭骨均有絨毛狀群齒。前鰓蓋骨後下角無強棘；鰓蓋骨及下眼眶骨均有強弱不一的硬棘。體被大型櫛鱗；側線完全，側線鱗數37-39，側線至背鰭硬棘中間點之鱗片數2.5；胸鰭腋部無小鱗片。背鰭連續，單一，硬棘部及軟條部間具深凹，具硬棘X-I，軟條15-16。臀鰭有硬棘 IV ，軟條14-15；腹鰭硬棘 I ，軟條 5-8 (通常為7 ) ；尾鰭深叉形。鰓膜至鰓蓋骨棘上方有一條暗深紅色之帶斑。體背部紅色，腹部則淡紅，各鰭紅色，背鰭軟條部及臀鳍之近基部處為透明，腹鰭棘則為白色。

夜行性的魚種，成一小群地出現在洞穴中或在礁台的縫隙中、珊瑚礁湖或珊瑚礁斜坡外圍，深度可達水深50公尺處。白天很鬆散地聚集在棲地或靠近棲地的地方。它主要吃些浮游動物，例如螃蟹的幼蟲等。

Myripristis pralinia, the scarlet soldierfish, is a nocturnal species of soldierfish from the genus Myripristis. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa to the Marquesas Islands and the Gambier Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia. It can also be found on the Marshall Islands and the Mariana Islands. It can be found in small, loose groups in caves or under ledges in reef flats, lagoons and outer reef slopes. It feeds on plankton.

A nocturnal species found in small groups in caves or under ledges of reef flats, lagoons, and outer reef slopes. In loose aggregations in or near shelter during the day (Ref. 9710). Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae.